drinking tea Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Dark Chocolate & Tea Lower Blood Pressure as Effectively as Medication

The AHA! Team — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 05:34:36 +0000

Cassie B. via Natural News – Decades of research involving over 5,200 adults shows flavanol-rich foods like dark chocolate and tea can lower blood pressure as effectively as medications, without harmful side effects. A major meta-analysis found flavanol consumption reduces systolic blood pressure by 3 mmHg on average — and up to 6 mmHg for those with hypertension — matching prescription drug results. Flavanols boost nitric oxide, improving blood vessel function naturally, with only 0.4% of participants reporting mild, temporary discomfort, which is far safer than pharmaceutical side effects. Experts recommend 400 to 600 mg of flavanols daily, achievable through dark chocolate (70%+ cocoa), black tea, and apples, offering a cost-effective, drug-free health boost. Beyond blood pressure, flavanols enhance cognitive function, insulin sensitivity, and heart health, proving whole foods outperform synthetic drugs for long-term wellness. The medical establishment and Big Pharma have long pushed expensive, side-effect-laden drugs as the only solution for high blood pressure, a condition affecting nearly half of American adults. But groundbreaking research spanning 80 years and involving over 5,200 adults reveals a far safer, more natural alternative: flavanol-rich foods like dark chocolate, tea, apples, and grapes. These everyday delights don’t just slightly improve cardiovascular health; they rival the blood pressure-lowering effects of prescription medications, all without the risks of Big Pharma’s chemical concoctions. The comprehensive meta-analysis, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, examined 145 clinical trials and found that participants consuming flavanol-rich foods saw systolic blood pressure drop by an average of 3 mmHg and diastolic by 2 mmHg. For those with elevated blood pressure, the reductions were even more dramatic—up to 6 mmHg systolic and 3 mmHg diastolic, matching the impact of common hypertension drugs. The science behind nature’s medicine Flavanols, plant-based compounds abundant in cocoa and tea, work by boosting nitric oxide production, which relaxes blood vessels and improves circulation. Unlike synthetic pharmaceuticals, which often come with debilitating side effects, these natural compounds deliver benefits with near-zero risk. Only 0.4% of study participants reported mild, transient discomfort like headaches or digestive issues, which is a pretty big contrast to the dizziness, fatigue, and kidney strain linked to blood pressure medications. Findings are encouraging “The findings are encouraging for those looking for accessible ways to manage their blood pressure and support their heart health through enjoyable dietary changes,” said lead researcher Christian Heiss, a cardiovascular medicine professor at the University of Surrey. Translation: You don’t need a prescription to harness these benefits—just a trip to the grocery store. The implications are explosive. If millions of Americans swapped even a fraction of their blood pressure medications for daily dark chocolate or tea, the pharmaceutical industry would lose billions. No wonder corporate-controlled media and medical gatekeepers downplay these findings. How to harness flavanols without Big Food’s tricks Not all chocolate is created equal. Milk chocolate and alkalized cocoa (common in mass-produced brands) are stripped of flavanols. To reap the benefits, opt for minimally processed dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content or raw cocoa powder. Similarly, black tea outperforms green tea in flavanol content, delivering up to 269 mg per cup. Kristi Crowe-White, a nutrition professor at the University of Alabama, co-authored the first U.S. dietary guideline for flavanols, recommending 400-600 mg daily. this can easily achieved with: 2 cups of black tea (538 mg) 30 grams of dark chocolate (30 mg) 1 apple (12 mg) Compare that to the cost and side effects of a monthly prescription. Nature beats pharmaceuticals… again This isn’t just about blood pressure. Flavanols also enhance cognitive function, reduce insulin resistance, and improve endothelial health—benefits no single drug can claim. While the medical-industrial complex profits from keeping patients dependent, the truth is clear: real food, not lab-made chemicals, holds the key to lasting wellness. As always, the elites would rather you ignore this. But for those willing to think independently, the solution is as simple as a square of dark chocolate and a cup of tea. Your heart will thank you. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com StudyFinds.org SciTechDaily.com To read the original article, click here

The post Dark Chocolate & Tea Lower Blood Pressure as Effectively as Medication appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Novel Lipids in Traditional Herbal Teas Unlock Potential Health Gains

The AHA! Team — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 05:12:59 +0000

Hokkaido University via News-Medical – The lipids in some herbal teas have been identified in detail for the first time, preparing the ground for investigating their contribution to the health benefits of the teas. Herbal teas are enjoyed worldwide, not only for their taste and refreshment but also for a wide range of reputed health benefits. But the potential significance of a category of compounds called lipids in the teas has been relatively unexplored. Researchers at Hokkaido University, led by Associate Professor Siddabasave Gowda and Professor Shu-Ping Hui of the Faculty of Health Sciences, have now identified 341 different molecular species from five categories of lipids in samples of four types of herbal tea. They published their results in the journal Food Chemistry. Lipids are a diverse collection of natural substances that share the property of being insoluble in water. They include all of the fats and oils that are common constituents of many foods, but they have generally not been examined as significant components of teas. The Hokkaido team selected four teas for their initial analysis: dokudami (Houttuynia cordata, fish mint), kumazasa (Sasa veitchii), sugina (Equisetum arvense, common horsetail) and yomogi (Artemisia princeps, Japanese mugwort). “These herbs are native to Japan and have been widely consumed as tea from ancient times due to their medicinal properties,” says Gowda. The medicinal benefits attributed to these and other herbal teas include antioxidant, antiglycation, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-allergic, anticarcinogenic, antithrombotic, vasodilatory, antimutagenic, and anti-aging effects. These herbs are native to Japan and have been widely consumed as tea from ancient times due to their medicinal properties The lipids in the teas were separated and identified by combining two modern analytical techniques called high-performance liquid chromatography and linear ion trap-Orbitrap mass spectrometry. The analysis revealed significant variations in the lipids in the four types of tea, with each type containing some known bioactive lipids. These included a distinct category of lipids called short-chain fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids (SFAHFAs), some of which had never previously been found in plants. SFAHFAs detected in tea could be a novel source of short-chain fatty acids, which are essential metabolites for maintaining gut health. “The discovery of these novel SFAHFAs opens new avenues for research,” says Hui, adding that the lipid concentrations found in the teas are at levels that could be expected to have significant nutritional and medical effects in consumers. The lipids discovered also included α-linolenic acid, already known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and arachidonic acid which has been associated with a variety of health benefits. These two compounds are examples of a range of poly-unsaturated fatty acids found in the teas, a category of lipids that are well-known for their nutritional benefits. Our initial study paves the way for further exploration of the role of lipids in herbal teas and their broad implications for human health and nutrition. We now want to expand our research to characterize the lipids in more than 40 types of herbal tea in the near future.” – Associate Professor Siddabasave Gowda, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University Source: Hokkaido University Journal reference: Nath, L. R. (2024). Dissecting new lipids and their composition in herbal tea using untargeted LC/MS. Food Chemistry. doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.138941. To read the original article click here.

The post Novel Lipids in Traditional Herbal Teas Unlock Potential Health Gains appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Drinking Black Tea May Lower Risk of Death, New Study Shows

AHA Publisher — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 07:00:55 +0000

Christine Ruggeri, CHHC via Dr. Axe – Almost half a million adults participated in a six-year study to determine the association between tea intake and mortality. The results suggest that drinking at least two cups of black tea daily may reduce your risk of death from common conditions like heart disease and stroke. Study Findings: Black Tea for Longevity A study published in September in Annals of Internal Medicine evaluated the associations of black tea consumption with all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Researchers from the National Cancer Institute provided baseline questionnaires to 498,043 men and women from the U.K. Participants indicated their tea intake and then conducted follow-ups after a median period of 11.2 years. Results show that higher tea intake was modestly associated with lower all-cause mortality risk among adults who drank two or more cups of black tea daily. Tea consumption also reduced the risk of cause-specific mortality from cardiovascular disease, ischemic heart disease and stroke. Researchers also found that results of tea drinking were similar whether or not participants also consumed hot coffee, and genetic scores for caffeine metabolism did not impact the findings. What It Means This isn’t the first time that tea consumption has been evaluated for its effects on mortality, but usually researchers study green tea because of its antioxidant properties. Some studies suggest that the association between black tea consumption and mortality is weak, with no clear trends across categories of consumption. However, we know that black tea is also considered a high-antioxidant food, and evidence that black tea can lower mortality risk, as indicated in this recent study, is promising. This study suggests that drinking two cups of black tea daily can have a significant impact on your health, helping reduce your risk of death generally and when associated with common conditions like cardiovascular disease. Other Black Tea Benefits How does black tea lower mortality risk? It’s loaded in polyphenols and antioxidants that impact several aspects of human health. Black tea benefits include its ability to help: lower blood pressure improve cholesterol levels fight cancer reduce risk of diabetes improve blood sugar levels reduce risk of stroke relieve digestive issues fight bacterial infections reduce cortisol and other stress hormones improve mental alertness alleviate headache pain To experience the perks of drinking black tea, be sure to let the leaves (which are ideally organic and loose) steep for at least two minutes. This ensures that you get the beneficial compounds in your tea that fight oxidative stress and support longevity. Conclusion A study published in September in Annals of Internal Medicine found that black tea consumption was linked to a reduced risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Results suggested that higher black tea intake was modestly associated with lower all-cause mortality risk among adults who drank at least two cups per day. Tea consumption also seemed to reduce the risk of cause-specific mortality from cardiovascular disease, ischemic heart disease and stroke. In addition to this major benefit of black tea highlighted in the study, drinking it can also improve cholesterol levels, reduce the risk of diabetes, fight cancer and relieve digestive complaints. To read the original article click here.

The post Drinking Black Tea May Lower Risk of Death, New Study Shows appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

7 Super-Charged Habits for Your Healthiest Summer Ever

AHA Publisher — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 07:00:31 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – There’s something about summer. It simply feels like the best season to form healthy habits. It seems easier and more natural during warm, light-filled days. If you’re ready to make a change, and make this your healthiest summer ever, we’ve got the top super-charged habits to help you. These habits are not complicated, but they may be life-changing. They are simple and easy to add to your lifestyle. In fact, most of them require just a small change in behaviors you’ve already established. Why not get started today? 7 Hacks to Make This Your Healthiest Summer Ever 1. Make It Ice Water There are actually 2 ways ice water can help you make this your healthiest summer ever. First, drinking ice water keeps your body cool during the hot summer months while improving calorie burn. How? Ice water is much colder than your body temperature, and your body must burn calories to warm it up. While this may seem like a negligible metabolism increase, it can add up to significant calorie burn. In fact, mathematically, every 64 ounces of ice-water you drink should require 61 calories (burned) to warm up. Over a week, this can add up to almost a 500 calorie deficit. In studies, drinking 16 ounces of ice-cold water per day actually increased calorie output by about 100 calories per day (1). While the studies are small in scale, they suggest ice water offers calorie and metabolism benefits. The second way ice-cold water can make this your healthiest summer ever is by exposing your body to it. When your body is exposed to very cold water, it uses brown fat cells to warm itself. These cells are extremely advantageous for metabolism. What’s more, ice-cold showers have been found in studies to activate “white fat” by making it act more like “brown fat(3).” In time, your body will naturally burn more calories the more brown fat you have. Easy Summer Hack Plan: This summer, drink at least 16 ounces of ice-water per day. Then, either shower or plunge into ice-cold water as often as possible. 2. Grow a Garden for Your Healthiest Summer Ever While you may think the only benefit of gardening is the harvest, there’s actually many healthy benefits when you put your hands in soil. In fact, studies have found that gardening is a great stress reducer and promotes feelings of calm and well-being (2). What’s more, gardening is a great excuse to get outside and be active. Take advantage of the time using your muscles and increasing vitamin D production from the sun. Easy Summer Hack Plan: Plant your own garden, herb container-garden, or join a community garden. No matter how you do it, you will reap benefits beyond the food itself. 3. Eat Delicious Seasonal Fresh Produce Like Greens and Herbs Ever feel like winter’s ingredients are less than inspiring? Well then, summer foods are for you! Take a look at your garden or the produce section in your local grocer. It’s brimming with fresh, in-season, healthy foods. In fact, when you add more greens and herbs to your diet, you can consume the same component plants used to grow and flourish: chlorophyll. In addition, vibrant and brightly colored vegetables and fruits offer a vast array of phytochemicals, antioxidants, and other health-promoting nutrients. Try: Delicious Fresh Herb Sauces. A delicious parsley-based sauce like Keto Zone® Chimichurri or Fresh Basil Pesto is perfect for any summer meal! Vibrant Salads and Green Vegetables. Greens are amazingly nutritious foods that are highly anti-inflammatory and health-promoting (3). Try eating a green salad with heart healthy extra-virgin olive oil every day. Fresh Low-Carb Summer Fruits. With a bit of portion control, fruits like berries can fit into a Keto Zone® lifestyle, and they are ripe and flavorful in the summer. Berries support healthy blood pressure (4), deliver loads of antioxidants, and promote overall health. Lemons and limes are also great for you, adding vitamin C, antioxidants, and more. Divine Health Organic Fermented Green Supremefood® and Organic Red Supremefood®. A great way to add even more organic greens and fruits to your diet is through Divine Health’s delicious organic fruit and vegetable powders. They are great-tasting and easy to add to water, tea, smoothies, and more! Easy Summer Hack Plan: Add 1-2 servings of Organic Red and Green Supremefood® to your daily routine, cover half your dinner plate with fresh greens, and try a new herb-sauce this summer! 4. Add Variety by Drinking Tea Tired of plain water? Make the switch to tea for part of your daily fluids. Beyond providing great hydration on hot summer days, black and green tea offer amazing health benefits for your eyes, brain and entire body. In fact, black and green tea support cellular detox, the fight against oxidative stress, normalized cortisol, increased calorie burn, healthy blood pressure and cholesterol, brain health (3), oral health, and a fiery metabolism. What’s more, you can get double the benefits when you add Organic Fermented Green Supremefood® to your tea or other foods during the day. It contains Green Tea Leaf Extract for a fermented, potent healthy green tea source. Easy Summer Hack Plan: Drink 16 ounces of green or black tea per day, preferably ice-cold. Consider adding 1 scoop of Organic Red and Green Supremefood®to your tea. You just might get 3 habits in 1! 5. Move Your Workout Outside Summer is one of the best times of the year for outdoor activities and exercise. Not only does it promote heart health, but being outside also supports mental health and enhanced mood. Studies have found that activity outside improves health markers and supports healthy cortisol. This means less tension, fatigue, and depressed moods. Amazingly, it may also help you exercise more consistently. One recent study concluded that men and women over 66 years who exercised outside reported higher levels of total activity per week than inside-exercisers (5). 6. Take an Evening Walk In addition to an outdoor workout, make this your healthiest summer ever by getting outside for an evening walk after dinner. Why? First, walking always burns calories and supports heart health (6). Moreover, timing a walk after dinner can help normalize post-meal blood sugars, reduce evening stress, and encourage optimal sleep. 7. Follow the Sun There’s really no better time to work on your own 24-hour daily cycle and circadian rhythms than summer. You can make this your healthiest summer ever by aligning your wake and sleep times with the sun. Artificial light is a known issue for sleep cycles. Since most of us are inside much of the day, stay up far past sundown, and stare at blue screens like computers and phones, our circadian rhythms can easily become “off balance.” It’s no wonder. We live in a world with fast-paced, busy schedules and often need artificial light throughout the year to get everything done. However, in the summer, we’ve got the opportunity to use more natural light and align our days with sun-up and sun-down. You’ll find a natural-light cycle can support healthy sleep, which in turn supports brain, immune, hormone, and whole-body health. How to Make These Healthy Habits Stick Habits are best added one at a time until you master each. To make these habits stick for your healthiest summer ever, add one per week over the next 7 weeks. Focus on each for 7 days, and then add the next. You can make small changes to super charge your summer, and then continue them to turn your healthy habits into a healthy lifestyle. Bottom Line Summer is a wonderful time to add healthy habits to your life. These top 7 tips can take your health from mediocre to supercharged! Try them for the next 7 weeks and experience the difference. Add great foods and ingredients like Organic Red and Green Supremefood®. You’ve got nothing to lose, and your healthiest summer ever to gain! To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Colbert click here.

The post 7 Super-Charged Habits for Your Healthiest Summer Ever appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.